• From: Shaker Heights, OH
  • Registered: 2009-06-23
  • Posts: 190

Topic: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

I know this is a pretty basic question, and it seems like there ought to be an easy way to determine this, but I can't seem to locate it.

My theoretical vehicle is a 2nd generation (1997-2005) GM U-Body minivan. The stock rims are 15x6, either aluminum or steel.

While brake upgrades are one reason to upgrade to 16" wheels, I'm probably too busy with other things to get around to that. I'm more interested in other rims, both stock size and larger, as a source of cheap tires - at the local Pull A Part, steel rims with tires are $15, alloy ones $25. I'm sure, given the sheer number of cars that they have, that some must have pretty sticky tires.

Thanks,
Christopher

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  • From: Buffalo NY, help me please!
  • Registered: 2009-09-09
  • Posts: 163

Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

go to tirerack.com .  look up wheels for your car, then write down the diameter, width, offset and backspacing that they offer, then go find wheels that match.

  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Lots of online resources for this. A quick search got me this handy site.

The tough part is going to be backspacing and offset. Probably your best bet is to find which vehicles share the bolt pattern and then start test-fitting them at the junkyard to see what clears the suspension and what doesn't. Don't worry about body clearance, because Sawzalls are quite effective at solving that sort of interference problem.

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  • From: Highland, MI
  • Registered: 2009-08-30
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

I believe the U-van is a 5x115mm bolt circle & should be common with all of the W-car platforms.... look for Luminas, Grand Prixs, Regals, etc. & the back spacing shouldn't be an issue.  If you want to start crossing into non-GM apps, that is certainly possible, but you may run into issues with larger or smaller hub centers.

Eric

  • From: Columbus, OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-26
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Don't use junkyard tires.  Get new ones.  [seriously.]

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  • From: Safety Harbor, FL (Tampa)
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

cbustapeck wrote:

I'm sure, given the sheer number of cars that they have, that some must have pretty sticky tires.

Um.. no.

See above.

Buy new tires.  Even if they're cheap all-seasons, they'll be better than whatever crap you find on a minivan or family car in a salvage yard.

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  • From: Columbus, OH
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

We got eight awesome Falken Azenis, mounted and balanced on our junkyard wheels, for $500.  So four would have been around $250.  So worth it.  I did use wheels from Pick-N-Pull.  They're awesomely cheap on wheels there.  ($13!?  Jeez.)  Just check them out first, look for bends and cracks.

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  • From: Land Of Subarus, Colorado
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Junkyard tires can be pretty scary, since you don't know how long they've been baking in the sun and losing integrity before you get them. They can look fine, but blowouts on the race track are very, very bad.

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  • From: oklahoma city
  • Registered: 2009-10-08
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

i just looked up 'GM U-body' before i posted something, and realized....

you're not running an astro/safari.....


and then i was too bummed to do any more looking.

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

5x115 is EXTREMELY COMMON... Look on alot of Nissans as well as late model Toyotas. Not sure if the offset with work but you can always try. I know that Cavaliers and Scion tC's utilize that bolt pattern and come with 16's and 17's stock.

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  • From: Columbus, OH
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Also, look at tire size and cost before buying your wheels.  15" is sometimes a sweet spot - you can sometimes get good tires for cheaper than 16" and 17" equivalents.  Junk yards are full of 15" wheels.  Bigger wheels are more rare.

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  • From: Shaker Heights, OH
  • Registered: 2009-06-23
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

psychoboy wrote:

i just looked up 'GM U-body' before i posted something, and realized....

you're not running an astro/safari.....


and then i was too bummed to do any more looking.

Sorry. Maybe that should be your project. =P

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  • From: Houston, TX
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

MurileeMartin wrote:

Junkyard tires can be pretty scary, since you don't know how long they've been baking in the sun and losing integrity before you get them. They can look fine, but blowouts on the race track are very, very bad.

I know a guy who started his first race on trailer tires... by say #2 he'd already upgraded.  And he knew where those tired had been, what they were doing, and exactly how old they were.

Junkyard tired would be hella scary.

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

doctawife wrote:

Junkyard tired would be hella scary.

So to keep it interesting we should race double wide through each turn with only junkyard tires... big_smile

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15 Reply by X-args (edited by X-args 2009-10-16 11:20 AM)

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Riktor wrote:

5x115 is EXTREMELY COMMON... Look on alot of Nissans as well as late model Toyotas. Not sure if the offset with work but you can always try. I know that Cavaliers and Scion tC's utilize that bolt pattern and come with 16's and 17's stock.

Cavaliers and all J/N body (N body until '99) cars are 5x100.

The 5x115 pattern is the 'Mid/Large GM FWD' pattern, and includes W body and A body FWD.
Lots of junkyard wheels available!

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16 Reply by LTDScott (edited by LTDScott 2009-10-19 09:29 AM)

  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

A lot of newer Mopars (300, Charger, etc) use 5x100 too.

EDIT: I meant 5x115!!! 5x115 wheels will fit 5x114.3. I had Dodge Charger steelies on my LTD, but it's not ideal.

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17 Reply by ronman (edited by ronman 2009-10-18 10:22 AM)

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Chrysler LX-cars (as well as Mustangs, Rangers, Crown Vics, and a ton of other things) are 5x114.3, or, for the metrically-challenged among us, 5x4.5".

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

X-args wrote:
Riktor wrote:

5x115 is EXTREMELY COMMON... Look on alot of Nissans as well as late model Toyotas. Not sure if the offset with work but you can always try. I know that Cavaliers and Scion tC's utilize that bolt pattern and come with 16's and 17's stock.

Cavaliers and all J/N body (N body until '99) cars are 5x100.

The 5x115 pattern is the 'Mid/Large GM FWD' pattern, and includes W body and A body FWD.
Lots of junkyard wheels available!

You're right... I went special-ed on my measurements...

ronman wrote:

Chrysler LX-cars (as well as Mustangs, Rangers, Crown Vics, and a ton of other things) are 5x114.3, or, for the metrically-challenged among us, 5x4.5".

You know with aluminum wheels... that .7mm could easy be WORKED out of the wheel... Especially if they are hub-centric designs...

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  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

ronman wrote:

Chrysler LX-cars (as well as Mustangs, Rangers, Crown Vics, and a ton of other things) are 5x114.3, or, for the metrically-challenged among us, 5x4.5".

The Chrysler LX cars are actually 5x115 (see my correct post above).

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Ahh, ok, I know where my confusion came from. I had a set of 300 Touring wheels on my '94 LHS, which was 114.3. Too many damn numbers to remember.

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

ronman wrote:

Ahh, ok, I know where my confusion came from. I had a set of 300 Touring wheels on my '94 LHS, which was 114.3. Too many damn numbers to remember.

agreed...

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

On a realted subject I'm looking for 4 X 100 15 inch rims.  What else runs those?  {going to look at Phil's linky}

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  • From: oklahoma city
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Jer wrote:

On a realted subject I'm looking for 4 X 100 15 inch rims.  What else runs those?  {going to look at Phil's linky}

steel wheels? your are mostly limited to 01-05 civics, and they can be hard to find.

alloys? there's a billion options, find your local ricer gang and buy something from them.

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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

psychoboy wrote:
Jer wrote:

On a realted subject I'm looking for 4 X 100 15 inch rims.  What else runs those?  {going to look at Phil's linky}

steel wheels? your are mostly limited to 01-05 civics, and they can be hard to find.

alloys? there's a billion options, find your local ricer gang and buy something from them.

I was under the impression that almost all eg+ civics and da+ integras ran 4x100 unless they have a five lug conversion.

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  • From: Highland, MI
  • Registered: 2009-08-30
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Re: Finding wheels on other cars that will fit my car?

Jer wrote:

On a realted subject I'm looking for 4 X 100 15 inch rims.  What else runs those?  {going to look at Phil's linky}

Miata, MX-3 & Civic wheels can be pricey, & Chevette wheels are tough to find.  Cheapest option I found were mid-90s Saturn S-series, 15x6 alloys.  Only problem is the offset is almost too deep for the Mazdas, so we've been running with 5mm spacers.  I bought 9 out of one local yard alone at $30-35 apiece.  www.car-part.com works good for finding specific items, once you know what you're looking for!

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